Shiaght Laa

Ta Fiona McArdle chebbal y chlaare shoh, as aynjee ta shin clashtyn mychione yn Arrymagh John Quine reesht veih ughtar lioar noa my-e-chione, Julie Quine. Eisht ta shin clashtyn mychione skeeal ass shennaghys yn Ellan va wheesh graih ec John Quine er, as ta shin feddyn magh woish Allison Fox jeh Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin mychione traa boiragh son Reeaghyn Vannin as ny Hellanyn, as yn aght ren cah nagh row ro scanshoil per se ayns Largs eddyr ny Loghlynee as ny Albinee, va jannoo seose toshiaght y jerrey son yn Ree Magnus as e reeriaght. Fiona McArdle presents this programme, and it it we hear about the Rev John Quine again from the author of a new book about him, Julie Quine. Then we hear about a story from the Island's history that was such a great love of John Quine, and we find out from Allison Fox of Manx National Heritage about a troublesome time for the Kings of Man and the Isles, and the way a battle that wasn't too important per se in Largs between the Norwegians and the Scots, constituted the

James Kewley Ward became hugely rich in North America. Amongst his many philanthropic acts for the people of his native land, he had a library built and furnished on the site of his birthplace in Peel. Current librarian Gemma Quilliam tells us about the modern services available in the beautiful and iconic Ward Public Library which was opened on 26th September 1907. A popular book about Manx life was 'The Captain of the Parish' by Canon John Quine. Julie Quine has been researching his life and times and has just published 'Manx Patriot : the Life of Canon John Quine, Antiquarian, Author and 'Captain' of his Parish'.  

Maralyn Crellin introduces a celebration of the birth of Mona Douglas on 18th September 1898. We dip into the Manx Radio archives to hear something about Mona from Annie Kissack, who was a member of Aeglagh Vannin and later a friend of Mona, and who was greatly inspired by her. We hear, too, from Derek Winterbottom, author of 'Sophia Morrison, Mona Douglas & their Enchanted Isle' in which he emphasises Mona's importance. We also hear from Mona herself, singing excerpts from some songs in Manx and taking part in a radio phone in programme hosted by David Callister in which she recalls the history of charms and other forms of folk medicine. 

Fiona McArdle tells us a little about Brian Stowell and we hear an extract from his autobiography, written in Manx, 'Gaelg as Fishig : Skeeal my Vea', read by Phil Gawne. Now in its third year, Our Island : Our World celebrates the Island's cultural diversity with people from many traditions now resident here. The festival was the inspiration of Dave Mclean, who tells us about this year's events. After dipping into a little of the history of the Douglas Choral Union, Jude Fullerton tells us something about her own background in stage make-up and the work that goes on in the background for productions staged by the DCU. 

Standing in the cross house at Kirk Maughold is the imposing Crux Guriat. We were to have had a poem with an unlikely history of the cross by W W Gill last time, but there wasn't time - so we return to it this time. It's now coming up to the new school year, and we look at the history and the future of the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh with former teacher, Annie Kissack, founder of Mooinjer Veggey, Phil Gawne, and the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Dr Alex Allinson.

Maralyn Crellin introduces this edition of Shiaght Laa. We join Sara Goodwins, author of the book 'Cross Purposes : An Introduction to Mediaeval Manx Crosses', as she illustrates the range of decorative styles with examples from the specially-constructed cross house in Kirk Maughold. Moving southwards, we visit Port St Mary, where there is a joint initiative between Port St Mary Commissioners and Rushen Heritage Trust to add information to the name signs of the Port's byways. We find out more from Chair of the Commissioners, Michelle Haywood, and Trust member, Staffan Overgaard.

Laa'l Moirrey Toshee is the Manx celebration of St Mary's principal feast day. The Very Reverend Nigel Godfrey, Dean of St German's Cathedral, talks of St Mary and the many dedications to her in the Island. We visit Chibbyr y Woirrey in Onchan, whilst Sue Woolley tells us of the history surrounding Chibbyr y Woirrey in Ramsey. One of the Maughold stone crosses was found at Keeill Woirrey in Maughold. Author Sara Goodwins talks about it and what interested her in the Manx stone crosses and led her to produce her book, 'Cross Purposes : An Introduction to Mediaeval Manx Crosses' (Loaghtan Books, £5.95).

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. We join President of the Manx Amateur Drama Federation, Michael Lees, and Chairman of the MADF committee, Sharon Walker, to hear about the participants in this year's Festival of One-Act Plays, Wed 4th March-Sat 7th March. This includes the first stage of the Young Actor of Mann which will conclude during the Easter Festival of Full-Length Plays. Later in the year, the Federation hosts the National Association of Drama Federation's British All-Winners Festival. A busy year, and the Federation's on-going Spencer Wright Bursary to administer as well.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Fiona McArdle introduces this edition as we look at a piece of history associated with the leap day, 29th February 1760, when a battered French squadron was towed round the Point of Ayre and into Ramsey Bay, after a sea battle the previous morning off Jurby Head with a Royal Navy squadron under John Elliott, and the French commander, Francois Thurot, killed. And we look at the role of the Manx Amateur Drama Federation, which will he hosting its annual Festival of One-Act Plays over four days from Wednesday 4th March.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Maralyn Crellin presents this edition. There's a thread running through it, as we talk to the Chair of the Isle of Man branch of the Embroiderers' Guild, Marilyn Cullen, before reminding ourselves of the Mannin Quilters exhibition celebrating UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man, as the works go north to Jurby Health and Community Centre. There's also a new exhibition, 'The Luxury of Time', at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. This week we attend a special ceremony in the headquarters of Culture Vannin in St John's for the award of the cultural award, the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, to Stephen Miller. We hear Director of Culture Vannin, Dr Breeesha Maddrell, Chair of Culture Vannin and of the RBV award panel, Chris Thomas MHK, and from Stephen Miller RBV.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. This week we visit the official opening of an exhibition by Mannin Quilters of pieces inspired by the Island's UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man status. We're in Castletown Civic Centre, where the Vice-Chairman of Castletown Commissioners, David Parnell, welcomes guests and introduces the Chief Minister, Howard Quayle. We then hear from Chair of Mannin Quilters, Chris Eastham, and also from Mannin Quilters' resident performance poet, Di Benson. Music is supplied by young harp player, Lucy Gilmore.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Laa'l Breeshey, St Bride's or St Bridget's Day, falls on 1st February, but the eve of her feast day was very important in the Island's practise of folk ritual. We hear about Breeshey and the customs associated with her with the help of Ruth Keggin and Breesha Maddrell of Culture Vannin. Laa'l Moirrey ny Gainle is the Manx name for the Christian celebration of Candlemas, which falls on 2nd February. Mera Royle plays a tune associated with the day.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, is celebrated on the anniversary of his birth, 25th January, and there are at least some tenuous connections between the Island and the world-renowned bard. We also look ahead to 30th January which will be Superhero dressing up/down day to raise awareness and money for Crossroads Care Young Carers, as Children's Services Officer Hannah Murphy explains.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Fiona McArdle has been instrumental in organizing the Island's involvement in the Pan Celtic Festival, held somewhere in the island of Ireland each year in Easter Week. The main competition is for a new song in the Celtic language of each of the six participating nations - Brittany, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. We hear this year's Arrane son Mannin to choose a song for that, plus some young singers from the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh and the Island's winning entry in Ireland in 2014, Shenn Scoill's 'Tayrn mee thie'.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. This week we join the annual ceremony in memory of Illiam Dhone, William Christian, who was shot to death on Hango Hill near Castletown on 2nd January 1663. We hear Mark Kermode of Mec Vannin and the Manx Branch of the Celtic League, Devon Watson of the Climate Change Coalition and former teacher and now a promoter of information about climate change, Paul Craine, and also briefly from Maxine Cannan, who laid a wreathe on behalf of the Isle of Man Post Office.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Last time we heard Sravanti Mazumdar talking about Rabindranath Tagore. Her project is to perform Tagore's work in Bengali and in the Manx language, working with Manx musicians and singers. We hear more from Sravanti about herself , and how Tagore was influenced by the work of Robert Burns, which gives us an opportunity to hear his Bengali versions of two of Burns's most famous poems, and translations of them into Manx - and about a Manx connection with one of the tunes.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Professor Angela Little recounts how a book about the Isle of Man published in Norwegian in 1979 by Jon Leirfall was passed on to her by an academic colleague and friend. Unable to read Norwegian, Professor Little discovered that Norwegian was one of the many languages at the command of Dr Jennifer Kewley Draskau, who quickly translated what has been published by Culture Vannin as 'A Thousand Years in Man'. She speaks about the book and about other books in Norwegian which she has been championing. And we hear of Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore, and a proposed project by singer and broadcaster, Sravanti Mazumdar, bringing together Tagore's work in Bengali with versions in the Manx language. She tells us something about her background in Bengal and her love of the Island, which has been her adopted home since 1994.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. Fiona McArdle introduces the programme as we hear about a book called 'Port Erin : Past and Present' published by Loaghtan Books, featuring postcards from the extensive collection of Ray Stanfield, who explains about his archive, with modern photographs by George Hobbes and explanatory text by Sara Goodwins, who tell us about their work on the book. Not far from Port Erin there was a traditional fair held at Bell Abbey in Colby to celebrate Shenn Laal Catreeney, and we hear a song associated with the event sung for us by Brian Mac Stoyll. This leads us on to visit the Culture Vannin headquarters in St John's for the launch of an autobiography by Brian Mac Stoyll entitled 'Gaelg as Fishig : Skeeal my Vea'. We hear from Yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Adrian Cain, and the amanuensis who helped prepare the book, Dr Wendy Mercer.

Manx Radio's weekly programme looking at Manx life from a different angle, exploring the historical, social, linguistic and academic issues. In this, the first of a new series, we celebrate Laal Andreays, St Andrew's Day, with a visit to the northern parish dedicated to the Biblical saint in the company of Kirk Andreas churchwarden, Michael Ellis. We also hear from David Kilgallon as he tells the Moghrey Jedoonee in the Afternoon team about Manannan's Winterfest 2019.